2007'02.11.Sun
Phoenix Ancient Art to Premiere Important Collection of Greek Vases at Its New York City Gallery

October 19, 2006

Masterpieces From Major Painters Among the Most Important Vases Remaining in Private Hands
NEW YORK, Oct. 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Ancient Art, one of the world's leading dealers in rare, high quality antiquities from Western civilizations, today announced that its exhibition, "The Painter's Eye: The Art of Greek Ceramics. Greek Vases from a Swiss Private Collection and Other European Private Collections," will be unveiled at its New York City gallery on October 20, 2006, opening to the public on October 21, and remaining on view until November 11, 2006. This will be the first time that this particular collection of vases will be going on public display, some of which have not been seen in over 30 years. "We pursued this collection for five years, knowing that the opportunity to obtain such a rare collection of Greek vases, painstakingly selected for their beauty, quality and integrity, would probably never present itself again," says Ali Aboutaam, president of Phoenix Ancient Art. The exhibit will be accompanied by the publication of a corresponding scholarly catalogue featuring the 26 pieces, which range in date from the mid-6th century B.C. to the late 4th century B.C. A number of these wonderful vases have previously been unpublished, highlighting the timeliness of Phoenix's decision to bring such treasures of antiquity into the light. "When most people think of ancient art, one of the first images that come to mind, perhaps now more than ever, is a Greek vase," said Hicham Aboutaam, co-founder of Phoenix Ancient Art. "The power of these timeless works of art to evoke the glories of Western art in the public consciousness is extraordinary." "Even in antiquity, Greek vases were treasured as trophies and heirlooms," says Ali Aboutaam. Voracious foreign demand also led to their travel and export throughout the Mediterranean. The most skilled potters and vase painters would develop their own followings in much the same way that paintings collectors today look for Picassos or Rembrandts." While no actual Picassos are on display, Phoenix's show certainly features some of his ancient equivalents. Painters such as Macron, Dikaios and Brygos, among the masters of their craft, present compositions executed with a grace and beauty that illustrate an incredibly high level of draftsmanship and aesthetic sensitivity. It is easy to see how these vessels have attracted devoted collectors for over 2,000 years, from Roman conquerors to Enlightenment era intellectuals to modern day diplomats. In this case, the names of the collectors can be of just as much importance as the names of the artists. Consider two beautiful and unusually large amphorae, or wine vessels, with lively depictions of satyrs and maenads in the midst of their drunken revels. They were excavated and published by Lucien Bonaparte, the Prince of Canino and half brother of Emperor Napoleon I. One of the highlights of the show displays a brilliance of craftsmanship and design that is matched by an equally fascinating history: a 6th century B.C. amphora by the Antimenes Painter depicting Heracles battling the Nemean Lion -- arguably one of his finest works -- hails from the early 19th century collection at Capesthorne Hall, one of Britain's great country estates. Home to the Bromley-Davenport family, this marvelous vase belonged to Sir Edward Davies Davenport (1778-1847), a politician and intellectual who fell in love with the Classical world and amassed his collection during his European Grand Tour. A number of the vessels are also decorated with genre scenes of daily life, which are sure to be of interest to both casual students of antiquity as well as to seasoned collectors and academics. Themes such as a music lesson, the cleaning of a fish for a meal and athletes exercising are treated with equal care, the lively, colorful images giving us a tantalizing glimpse into the ancient world. A 121-page catalogue entitled, "The Painter's Eye: The Art of Greek Ceramics. Greek Vases from A Swiss Private Collection and Other European Collections (2006)," featuring 64 color photos, glossary of terms and bibliography will be available for purchase at the gallery. Located at 47 East 66th Street in Manhattan, the gallery will be open to the public Monday-Friday, 11am-6pm and Saturday-Sunday, 12pm-5pm. For more information call (212) 288-7518 or visit http://www.phoenixancientart.com . ABOUT PHOENIX ANCIENT ART With galleries in New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, Phoenix Ancient Art ( http://www.phoenixancientart.com ) is one of the world's leading dealers in rare and exquisite antiquities from cultures that make up the essence of Western Civilization. Its works of art have been purchased by world-class museums around the globe, as well as by private individuals. Formally incorporated in 1995, Phoenix Ancient Art is a second-generation family business that was founded by Sleiman Aboutaam in 1968 and continues today under the leadership of his sons, Ali and Hicham. For more information, please contact: Justin Perras Dukas Public Relations Tel: +1-212-704-7385 Email: justin@dukaspr.com SOURCE Phoenix Ancient Art
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